BY GILA BENMAYOR
HURRIYET- Ufuk Batum is a member of the Science, Administration and Culture Platform of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). He is a young, energetic CHP member, but he and those like him have no say in the party. There are many other young CHP members who could make great contributions to the party and deserved to be listened to.
In the leadup to the CHP’s extraordinary congress later this month, Batum told me, ‘I hope it will be a meeting for the CHP to improve itself rather than an arena for a fight over the leadership.’ What should the CHP do to better itself? Batum had all a list: Meetings of the women and youth branches should be held more frequently. At least 40% of CHP aid from the Treasury should be allocated to the party’s local bureaus. The party’s revenue and expenditures should be made public, for example on the Internet. After hearing Batum, it’s clear that now the CHP isn’t transparent. But anyone can access the ruling Justice and Development Party’s budget on the Internet. The CHP hasn’t taken advantage of the Internet. Batum stressed this. ‘The party should take advantage of technology and practice a faster flow of information,” he said. Can you find information on the CHP on the Internet? I can’t. Another issue of concern to Batum is training within the CHP. The Istanbul Local Management Center, which was established for intra-party training, is not active. Another problem of the CHP is that it doesn’t finish the projects it starts.
Batum said that he had prepared a report on India and China for the Science, Administration and Culture Platform. China and India are two rising giants. Developments in both countries are important for Turkey’s textile sector and many other industries. But the CHP has let the report collect dust, unread and unused.